Army Air Force Preview

Lots to look forward to in Army vs. Air Force.

There's a lot on the line with the winner gaining bowl eligibility and with the CIC Trophy in play.

Here are Army's game notes.

The Black Knights are trying to stop a number of losing streaks against Air Force. Army has lost four straight overall to the Falcons and six consecutive outings versus Air Force at Michie Stadium. Army is also trying to stop a nine-game losing streak to its fellow service academies. The Black Knights’ last win in CIC Trophy play was a 27-24 win at Air Force on Nov. 5, 2005.

Interestingly, Army will try to keep alive Air Force's own losing streak - currently at 3 games.




Sal has an Army/Air Force video preview up pretty good stuff there, check it out if you haven't already.

Stretching Air Force's losing streak to 4 games will be a tall order against a skilled team coming away from two straight games vs. top 10 teams.

Most of the time I consider coming off games like that as a benefit to a team... they gain experience playing against a stronger or faster team and are tested in all phases of the game. I don't know why I've always thought that, but it just seems like the best possible practice for a team *unless* you leave the game with injuries.

--The Falcons have been hit by injuries, but hope that NG Ryan Gardner returns this week. Air Force was allowing 155.8 rushing yards through the Navy game. It has given up an average of 263.3 rushing yards per game since. That increase isn't entirely related to any injury, but getting Gardner back would help. "If we could get one body back, that's not sitting on Santa's lap and asking for too much," coach Troy Calhoun said.

In this case, Air Force is dealing with some holes due to injuries and their prep for last week's Utah game surely didn't allow for much work against Army's flexbone offense. Add to that Army's well timed bye week and the rationale for Utah and TCU being Air Force Academy's best practice leading up to Army goes right out the window.

Steve Anderson's Blog is rolling along. You know he's in the right frame of mind for this one.


Perennial MVP Sal Interdonato posts CBS College play-by-play announcer Dave Ryan's Army Air Force Preview where Ryan lists that QB play is key.


This one is an academy game, one with bowl hopes and CIC bragging rights on the line, Army is expecting a full house and both teams should be wearing new uniforms... everywhere you turn it's a load of distractions for the good guys- Ellerson's take on the fanfare?

"My message from beginning to end this week will be that this is not going to require some heroic, over-the-top effort," Ellerson said. "Or we have to go to some emotional place that we've never been before in order to be successful. What we have to do is what we do and we can't allow all the bells and whistles going off on the periphery to distract us from doing what we do. It's like you're trying to take the SAT and there's a guy in the corner with a noisemaker. You gotta shut it down."